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Slow cooker Pasta e Fagioli soup is a rich and hearty Italian soup loaded with pasta, vegetables, beans, and lean ground beef. It’s hearty, comforting, and oh so delicious!
Italy knows just the way to my heart! If you love a good Italian soup, try this creamy Zuppa Toscana, this chicken gnocchi, or this classic Italian wedding soup.
A Reader’s Review
This is a great simple recipe for a tasty, filling meal! My husband also really enjoyed it… Going to be a regular at our house. Thanks for this winner!!!
Slow Cooker Pasta e Fagioli
Today I am sharing one of my favorite soups: Pasta e Fagioli. This is comfort food at its finest! It’s a super hearty, meaty, thick Italian soup loaded with veggies, meat, and beans. But that’s not even the best part! The best of all is that this soup is made in a slow cooker. That means little to no prep time and lots of flavors. This soup simmers low and slow for 8 hours! Let the slow cooker do all the work while you relax and enjoy the aroma in your home.
While your soup is cooking all day, then you have some time to make a few sides to go with it. I love adding a side salad and some breadsticks to dip into this soup. You can also make those recipes ahead of time! Then, when the soup is finished, all you have to do is get it all out, set the table, and dig in! It’s a great meal that your entire family will enjoy.
Ingredients You Need to Make Pasta e Fagioli
This is a thick, rich and hearty soup that is loved by all. So many ingredients but so much flavor in all of them! You will love the combination of vegetables, beans, and pasta. See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact measurements.
- Extra virgin olive oil: This adds a hint of seasoning and liquid in the mix.
- Ground beef: When I buy ground beef I try and get it as lean as possible.
- Carrots: The should be freshly peeled and sliced. Canned carrots are little too mushy when simmering them for a long period of time.
- Celery stalks: Slice and dice them to your preference.
- Onion: I like to dice these up a little smaller for kids.
- Crushed tomatoes: Canned tomatoes are best. Some cans are flavored which adds more flavor so get the kind that you prefer.
- Beef broth: This liquid base adds in a delicious flavor.
- Bay leaves: This brings in a strong taste that is so familiar in soups.
- Oregano: The oregano brings more aromatic seasoning to the soup.
- Dried basil: Dried basil has a slight pepper taste but is perfectly strong and sweet.
- Dried thyme: Thyme is a subtle flavor but it is enough for this soup.
- Salt and pepper: Add this to taste (I added 1 tsp salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper)
- Cannelloni beans and red kidney beans: Make sure that these have been drained and rinsed before adding
- Ditalini pasta: This uncooked pasta will be added in at the end.
How to Make Pasta e Fagioli
This soup takes just a bit of prep time and is super easy to throw together. Serve it with a hot, fresh perfect soft, buttery roll for a great dinner meal!
- Brown the ground beef: Add olive oil to a large skillet and add in ground beef. Cook until browned and no longer pink.
- Combine all ingredients: Place the beef in a slow cooker along with the rest of the ingredients except for the beans and pasta.
- Cook on low: Cook on low for 7-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. 30 minutes before serving stir in beans and pasta.
- Season: Season with salt and pepper to taste. Discard bay leaves before serving.
- Serve: Serve immediately while hot.
Is Pasta e Fagioli a Main Dish or a Side Dish?
This is a common question, and there is no correct answer! This dish is filling enough and has your meats and veggies all in one so you can definitely serve it as a main dish! Add in a Caprese salad and some breadsticks and it can be a meal. Or, you can serve it as an appetizer to the main course! Either way, it’s going to fill you up!
What’s the Difference Between Minestrone Soup and Pasta e Fagioli?
These two soups are often confused with one another! They are both delicious but here are the differences between the two:
- Consistency: The main difference between minestrone soup and pasta e fagioli soup is the meat and the thickness. Minestrone leaves our ground beef and has a thinner consistency.
- Vegetables: They each have vegetables but pasta e fagioli has a few more and a different variety.
How to Store Leftovers
This soup makes fantastic leftovers! It tastes just as good, if not better, the next day!
- In the Refrigerator: Place the soup in an airtight container and put it in your fridge. It will last 3-4 days.
- To Reheat: When you are ready to eat it again then put the soup in a medium sized pot and cook it on medium-high heat on your stove. It will take 5-10 minutes until it’s heated through.
More Italian Recipes to Try
As I said before, Italy really knows the way to my heart! All of the delicious seasonings, soups and pasta are SOO GOOD. It’s hard to pick a favorite! It you are looking for some more delicious tried and true recipes then you will love these that I have rounded up. Serve them family style and it will feel as if you are in Italy! Enjoy!
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Slow Cooker Pasta e Fagioli Soup
Equipment
- Crock-Pot
- Cuisinart Stainless Steel Chopper
- Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 2 whole carrots diced
- 4 celery stalks diced
- 1 medium onion diced
- 1 (28 ounce can) crushed tomatoes
- 2 (14.5 ounce can) beef broth
- 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 2 whole bay leaves
- salt and pepper to taste I added 1 tsp salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 (15 ounce can) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (15 ounce can) red kidney beans drained and rinsed
- 1 cup ditalini pasta uncooked
Instructions
- Add olive oil to a large skillet and add in ground beef. Cook until browned and no longer pink.
- Place the beef in a slow cooker along with the rest of the ingredients except for the beans and pasta.
- Cook on low for 7-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. 30 minutes before serving stir in beans and pasta.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. Discard bay leaves before serving.
- Serve immediately while hot.
Video
Notes
Original Post on October 23, 2015
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Can you keep this on warm for a few hours after done cooking? I’m making this for work. Thanks
Yes, that will be fine!
Hi! Can this be made ahead of time and froze until ready to eat? Thanks!
Yes! I would not store it with the noodles, though. Cook those separately and add them to the soup just before serving so that they don’t get mushy in the freezer. Just store the cooked soup in an airtight container in your freezer for 2-3 months. When you are ready to eat it, let it thaw in your fridge overnight and then reheat it on the stove or you can place it in a crockpot to reheat.
I don’t see the measurements for the oregano,basil and tyme in the recipe.
Hi! I used my Italian Seasoning mix. Here is the recipe! Homemade Italian Seasoning
Good recipe, needs garlic though.
This is so good and so filling. And i froze the rest.
Can this be frozen?
Yes! Just put the leftovers in an airtight container and label them with the date. They should last a couple of months! Let it thaw in your fridge overnight and then you can quickly warm them up on the stove the next day.
Looks great! Leftovers can be frozen for later! right?
Yes! Just put them in an airtight container and label them with the date. They should last a couple of months!
Could this be done on top of the stove
I haven’t tried that with this specific recipe but I’m sure it could!
I did and it turned out great!
Can I put all ingredients in crock pot the night before- not the beans and pasta- store in fridge and turn it on the next morning, adding pasta and beans 1/2 hrs before done cooking?
I haven’t tried that before but it could possibly work! Let me know how it goes!
This was a wonderful recipe, fast, easy, and the best soup. I added a bit more ground beef (1/4 lb) & noodles (1/2 cup) as well as a 15 oz can of diced tomatoes with chili’s. I added Tabasco because I like the heat as well. I held off the Bay Leaf, and because I’m in Louisiana I used Louisiana Cajun Seasoning before cooking and when served. I also grated Parmesan cheese when served, like they always did at the Olive Garden. This was a WONDERFUL RECIPE, Thank You Alyssa!!!
What is a gluten free noodle that could be used
There should be some gluten-free noodles in your local grocery store near all of the regular pasta. Any shaped pasta will work!
I am looking forward to trying this recipe tomorrow. Just wondering, in the last 30 mins when you add the beans and pasta, do you put the slow cooker on high or low?
Every year my job has a Soup-er-bowl party at school. I see it says serves immediately, is this not a good soup to leave warm until all teachers get their lunch?
How fun!! Just change the temperature to warm on your slow cooker once it’s done cooking! Then it will be able to sit for a while and still taste fresh and warm!
I have not made this, but why add the beans in the last half hour? Don’t you want them simmering with the veggies and beef?
Since the beans just need to be warmed up, you don’t want to cook them for too long or they will become mushy.
this is now one of our favorite recipes, thank you so much Alyssa! it’s very filling/satisfying as a main meal but can be wonderful alongside grilled cheese sandwiches. one day I realized I had no carrots so I diced chunks of Kabocha squash–still came out most excellent. Love your website, always have.
Ooh that sounds like a delicious combo! Thanks for following along!
Hi Christina,
I’ve made this several times and find that the pasta tends to suck up the liquid. I usually cook the pasta separately and add it as I serve it. I know, it adds another stop and pot to the recipe, but usually takes care of the absorbed liquid. Just a suggestion!